I am considering a mixte for around town errands. I have some artritis in my hips so getting on and off of my df is painful. What brands and models should I be looking for in cromo or better frame?

Thanks for your help

Make sure it fits! Not all Mixte's are created equal in the size category.

Check out this thread for some great older mixtes. https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vintage/227038-show-us-your-mixte-mhendricks-new-happy-place.html

Do a search of the forums. Type in mixte and choose the Menndricks (please excuse the spelling) new happy place or something like that. You'll drool over all the mixte info and pictures.

This auction has ended, but this Motobecane Super Touring is a good bike, in good condition, kind of rare, and went for a cheap price, probably because it needs a wheelset.

The top tubes on most mixtes are so high that you may not experience any less pain when mounting and dismounting.

Raleigh, Fuji, Nishiki, Raleigh, Peugeot, Motobecane. The hard part is just finding one.

What size frame would you be looking at needing? I have a Bridgestone 300 Mixte frame/fork and rather small Raleigh Sportif mixte that are both looking for new homes.

I've found that while it's hard to find mixte's in general, it's really hard to find them with nicer tubing. OTOH, I have a decent old Univega that's looking for a home. Let us know what size you're looking for. I'm sure someone here would be happy to help.

Add Univega, Centurion and Miyata to the list - all of them are good Japanese machines.

They can be hard to find in great shape, but there are lots in OK shape I think, and I still see them on craigslist occasionally. I found a Peugeot hanging in someone's garage and bought it on the spot this fall. And I fixed up a Centurion for a neighbor last year.

I may look for a Japanese one next. Many of them have good solid alloy wheels and cranksets. My old Peugeot had neither, btw. But my ultimate mixte is the one I foolishly sold years ago when the mt.bike craze was young - a Motebecane Grand Touring.

The other thing to consider is drop bars vs something more upright. I can't understand drop bars on a mixte, unless you're planning on touring with one.

Add Panasonic as well. I had a nice one I sold last month with a cromoly frame.

Mixtes are hard to find, and at least around here, hard to sell as well.

Many of the smaller framed rigid steel mountain bikes will have similar or even better geometry. And in general, easier to find better grades of steel frames in the rigid mountain bike market.

+1 on the Panasonic. I picked up a beautiful Panasonic Sport 1000 at the local Goodwill, in like new condition (original Panasonic tires with no visible wear), Tange 900 double butted tubing, for 19.95 plus tax last week, so they are around,,,

I'd add Suteki to the list, too.

Don't want to PM everyone out of the blue, but take a look at my sig! I was inspired by a pretty recent thread to build up a mixte for my gf. She barely knows how to ride and hates using my brompton (only bike of mine that fits her) because it's too twitchy.

I've got a 1983 Fuji S12-S 18 speed mixte - I'm of the opinion that this bike is representative of about the top quality level one generally finds in vintage, mass produced mixtes - cro moly frame, forged dropouts w/integrated derailleur hangar, componentry to match. Pretty cool bike that nobody would say is low quality.

However, most of the mixtes I see are hi ten steel w/stamped dropouts. Nothing the matter with these bikes at all, especially for neighborhood runabout, etc. But if you see one w/the better features, and they definitely are out there, hop on it. I think most of the manufacturers listed in this thread had at least one mixte w/cromoly and forged dropouts.

Your average seller is pretty clueless about these things, fwiw, and is unlikely to assign a premium to it, so you may as well hold out for it.

You never said how tall you are, or what type of body type you have… so that factors into what size frame of a Mixte you need, or could get by with.

I can relate to what you are saying… I not only have had degenerative arthritis in both hips; I have had my left hip replaced already. A Mixte frame makes mounting and dismounting easier, but not as easy as a step through frame… I own and ride a Fuji Sagres Mixte with a 19 1/2 inch frame size from crank center to seat tube top. My Mixte is right on the minimum of what I would consider size wise for myself. I’m 6 feet tall, with about a 31 inch inseam. I don’ t really feel cramped, but I have changed the seating position from drop bars to a set of North Road bars, for a more upright seating position…

Of course the Mixtes with drop bars will make you stretch out farther, so they will feel like the effective top tube length is longer. It’s difficult to find Mixtes with the larger frame sizes… there have been quite a few men post on this forum saying that they would love to have a Mixte; if only they could find one in their size.

The only thing I can tell you is test ride as many Mixtes you can find, and see if one feels good to you. From what I have read, heard, and experienced personally; Mixtes have strange frame geometry that seemed to vary from manufacture to manufacturer. One companies 20 inch framed Mixte, may not feel anything like another’s 20 inch Mixte.

Well, good luck in your quest to find a Mixte… I really like mine, but if your mobility is severely limited, you may be better off getting a step through frame of some kind, like a mono tube U-frame; I have one of those I ride also.

If you've got the scratch, Rivendell will sell you a VERY nice mixte. Ahearn cycles will build you one, too. You'll need at least $2,000.

Here's an example.

I want to thank all responders. I can still mount a df with only a little pain if I am careful and still do ride a df. I also have a trek 820 ladies mtb with slicks that I have been using for around town stuff but one can not have too many options when choosing a ride! I have also considered a step thru but most are quite heavy. If I find a light one my problem will be solved. By the way, I am 5'9", 61 .

At 5’9” you do at least have an advantage over many of the other men on this forum when it comes to finding a Mixte that fits you well. I agree about most of the step through frames being heavy… It seems like all the American bikes with step through frames have to be cruisers, or comfort bikes. I wish someone would introduce a relatively fast set up city bike type, with step through frames; like I see advertised on some German Web sites, but only available in Europe… Oh well, right now I couldn’t afford one even if they were available… and besides that I still like riding my Mixte anyway.

Well, again best of luck to you, whatever you decide to ride.

Plenty of them show up in Atlanta. Where the problem is going to be is finding one for somebody taller then 5'6". Almost all of them I see come up are 18-20 inches. I have a Corsaro I may part with if the wife doesn't decide to keep it. Its a good luggged frame but lower grade Tange Alloy. Great parts on it. ARX Suntour bits with Diacompe 500 brakes. Bummer is the rear rim is bent and the front rim is a cheap replacement.

The ultimate mixte just has to be a Mercian.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/chris53...7603348210334/
Known as the Miss Mercian.
Check the pics either side of the link for more.

Size-wise, I just got lucky with my Peugeot. I didn't even think about size. I answered a cl ad for a Peugeot road frame and I saw the mixte on a hook in the garage and made a deal on the spot. I fixed it up and days later was showing it to my Peugeot-connoisseur neighbor. He pulled the smaller sister of mine (in beautiful condition - $25 at Goodwill) and we measured the two. It was amazing to see his, because it was the same color, similar era (mine's a '75) and obviously the same shape. And I wasn't even looking for one - what are the odds.

Mine has both a 22.5" (57cm) seat-tube and effective top tube. I think his was 19," which worked well because it was for his daughter. So I got lucky with size. I'm 5'10" and mine fits me fine. In fact, it's a half inch taller than my 56cm Trek, which fits me like a glove.

This Bottechia mixte was on eBay back in December; it looks like it's about a 56 cm frame.

Here's an interesting mixte, currently on eBay:



Early 70s Motobecane, likely hi-ten tubing, low-end Simplex derailleur, but note the shifters on the down tube. Not as high end as some mixtes. but not as common, either.